4:20 pm : The major averages regained some upside traction Wednesday as another batch of better than expected earnings and surprisingly strong data renewed confidence in the U.S. economy's ability to withstand the possibility the�Fed may go too far with its tightening efforts -- a growing�concern that, along with record oil�prices,�underpins our Neutral�market view.
Before the bell, March durable orders rose a much larger than expected 6.1%, reflecting strong business investment and underpinning solid economic growth. At 10:00 ET, March new home sales
Eat Bread, Fight Diabetes Not just any bread. Eat the hearty whole-grain breads -- and cereals, pastas, pilafs, et al. -- that heart experts are so high on.
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General Health Tip
Dining Out Tips: Chinese. Chinese food that is served up fast may mean more trouble for your health and waistline. The faster the food is cooked up and ready, the more oil the chef has probably added in the preparation to heat and cook your meal quickly.
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NATALEE'S UNCLE SAYS 'RE-ARREST DEEPAK!'
Natalee Holloway's uncle is demanding that suspect Deepak Kalpoe be re-arrested in the 10-month-old mystery of the pretty blonde honor student who disappeared in Aruba. Deepak, his brother Satish and Joran van der Sloot were with the Alabama teen, pictured center, when she was last seen leaving a bar on the island in the early hours of May 30. Her uncle Paul Reynolds told The National Enquirer that he believes Deepak, 21, should be the chief suspect instead of van der Sloot, 18. Reynolds also... STAR JONES CHEATS DEATH AS SHE UNDERGOES PLASTIC SURGERY A WILD NIGHT OUT FOR JESSE & HIS PARTY PAL LINDSAY
Star Magazine
KATIE HOLMES: FEARING FOR HER TOMKITTEN
Katie Holmes was already worried about the upcoming birth of her baby. According to the tenets of 43-year-old fiancé Tom Cruise's religion, Scientology, she'll have to be silent (not even a moan!) during the delivery, lest the trauma be imprinted in her baby's brain. Plus, a source says, "Only Tom and a few Scientology supporters will be in the room — not Katie's mother!" And Scientology advocates separating the baby from its mother for at least the first 24 hours after birth. Now... IT'S OVER! KRISTIN CHEATS ON NICK WITH HER EX! ANGELINA PILOTING HER PLANE AT 7 1/2 MONTHS: IS SHE CRAZY?
Gunmen kill sister of Iraqi vice president Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi speaks to a reporter in Baghdad April 18, 2006. Gunmen killed the sister of Hashemi in Baghdad on Thursday, Interior Ministry sources and two officials in his political party said. (Namir Noor-Eldeen/Reuters)
3:35 pm PT Tollgrade misses by $0.08, revs in line; guides for Q2 (TLGD) 15.26 +0.17 : Reports Q1 (Mar) net of breakeven, $0.08 worse than the Reuters Estimates consensus of $0.08; revenues rose 23.1% year/year to $17.6 mln vs the $17 mln consensus. EPS �results were at the low end of�expectations due to the dilutive effect of its recently completed acquisition of the Emerson test system business, as well as an increase in operating expenses.� Expect Q2 revenues in the range of $14 to $17 million with per share results of ($0.08) to $0.02, consensus is $18.8 and $0.10.
3:09 pm PT Beckman Coulter and Applera announce terms of settlement of legal disputes (BEC) : ABI and BEC announce that they have established the terms of a settlement to resolve all outstanding legal disputes between the parties regarding claims to certain BEC patented capillary electrophoresis technology and PCR instrumentation technology and ABI's allegations of breach of contract of certain licensed technology. As part of the settlement, the parties will grant royalty-bearing licenses to each other. BEC will grant ABI licenses to its patents for replaceable gels for capillary electrophoresis instruments and DNA sequencers and to its patent for a heated lid for thermal cyclers; ABI will grant BEC licenses conferring rights in the diagnostics market to its patents for nucleic acid sequencing and real time PCR thermalcycling. Additionally, ABI will make a $35 mln special payment to BEC on signing for release of any and all claims of infringement relating to DNA sequencer and thermal cycler products. BEC will make a $20 mln payment over 10 quarters to ABI's Celera Genomics (CRA) for rights in the diagnostics market to the referenced ABI technology.
3:08 pm PT Fidelity National reports $0.02 above consensus (FNF) 34.99 : Reports Q1 (Mar) earnings of $0.59 per share, $0.02 better than the Reuters Estimates consensus of $0.57; revenues rose 3.7% year/year to $2.36 bln vs the $2.22 bln consensus.